2015 Archive Stories Coachella Valley

Chamber series to feature cello, piano duo RIVERSIDE – A cellist and pianist, whose talents have been displayed on the world’s stages, will give a chamber music recital at La Sierra University the first week of March. La Sierra music department collaborating faculty members, cellist Marek Szpakiewicz and pianist Jiayi S

Deal-making and job switching could come into vogue in 2015, if February is an indication.
There were plenty of announcements to go around.
MALL MOVEMENT
Westfield Corp. of Australia has entered into a $925 million joint venture with O’Connor Capital Partners, agreeing to sell a stake in Westfield Palm Deser

A fire damaged a home in Desert Hot Springs, displacing five people Friday night, Feb. 27, authorities said.
The fire was reported at 8:54 p.m. in the 13200 block of Cholla Drive.
Firefighters confined the fire to a back bedroom and bathroom. Five engine companies with 17 firefighters contained the blaze in about three hours, acc

For nearly 20 years, Well in the Desert has been serving nutritious hot meals to those in need in the western end of the Coachella Valley while also offering a variety of services to help individuals get back on their feet and advocating for the poor. When Arlene Rosenthal joined the board of directors, she recognized that there was a gre

A big-rig blaze near the Salton Sea burned the truck's cab and half its load of eight vehicles, say Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department officials.
The flames were reported at 10:16 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, along the eastbound lanes of Interstate 10 near Frontage Road in Mecca.
The crews of four fire engines and a water tende

Here’s an opportunity for indie and country music fans. Valley Music Travel is seeking to fill 50 positions for this year’s Coachella Valley Musics and Arts Festival and Stageocoach Music Festival in Indio.
Jobs include hotel captains, shuttle managers and coordinators, check-in staff and runners, according to a press release

Westfield Corp., of Australia, has entered into a $925 million joint venture with O’Connor Capital Partners, agreeing to sell an interest in Westfield Palm Desert mall and two other regional shopping malls in the United States.
O’Connor, a private owner, operator and developer of real estate property, acquired a 47.4 percent

In the past few months, The Jacksons have performed in Dubai, the Philippines and Jakarta. To kick off their new tour, the brothers will be performing their first show of 2015 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino on Saturday, Feb. 28. The Jacksons formed in 1964 as The Jackson Brothers and when younger brother Michael joined, they became The

Twenty years after a Riverside County couple were fatally shot in their desert home, a third trial has been ordered for the man convicted of murdering them.
The decision comes after withering criticism of Johnny Baca’s case by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in January. The judges were alarmed that a Riverside County prosecut

An illegal drug lab blew up in a Palm Springs motel, critically injuring three of the room's four occupants, police say.
The explosion happened at 1:41 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, at the Knights Inn, 1450 South Palm Canyon Drive.
One of the victims was trying to convert marijuana into butane honey oil, Lt. Mike Kovaleff said in a writt

A 52-year-old homeless man is behind bars in a homicide investigation prompted by the weekend discovery of a woman's body in a desert lot in Palm Springs, according to city police and jail records.
Verne Raymond Orlop was arrested at 12:19 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, along South Palm Canyon Drive and booked for investigation of murder and viol

A 21-year-old Twentynine Palms resident was arrested after a shooting that wounded two other men in Thousand Palms Saturday, Feb. 21, authorities said.
At 9:20 p.m., deputies got a report of multiple gunshots and a woman screaming at a Motel 6 at 78100 Varner Road, Riverside County sheriff’s officials said in a written statement.

A man was shot to death in Coachella Saturday, Feb. 21, authorities said.
Deputies got a call at 10:32 p.m. of a shooting in the area of 85000 Napoli Lane, a Riverside County sheriff's news release said.
An investigation found that a man had been shot.
Angel Antonio Monroy was taken to a hospital, where he died, officials

A nighttime DUI crash in Coachella badly hurt all three occupants of the two cars, say Riverside County sheriff's and fire department officials.
The wreck was reported about 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at Enterprise Way and Ave. 54.
A northbound red Ford Focus veered into oncoming traffic and collided with a blue Aura, Sgt. Jess

A woman was found dead in a desert lot in Palm Springs, prompting a police investigation.
The discovery was made shortly after 8:10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, near East Mesquite Road and South Palm Canyon Drive.
The cause of the woman's death wasn't immediately determined, though investigators have categorized it as a suspicious dea

A 15-year-old boy was arrested in connection with a shooting in Desert Hot Springs, officials said.
Law enforcement agencies served three search warrants in Desert Hot Springs Saturday, Feb. 21, according to a Riverside County sheriff’s news release.
The warrants stemmed from an investigation into a Feb. 7 shooting involvin

*UPDATE: Name of driver added
A driver was killed after his car rear-ended a big rig on the 10 Freeway in Cathedral City Saturday morning, Feb. 21, officials said.
About 3 a.m., the motorist was heading east on the 10 east of Date Palm Drive when he crashed into the rear of a big rig traveling much slower, according to t

Founded in 2010, Galilee Center has quickly grown into an organization that helps thousands of the most underserved individuals in eastern Coachella Valley meet their basic needs.
When Martha’s Village co-founders Gloria Gomez and Claudia Castorena decided it was time to move on to the next project, they discovered a new calling as

A 29-year-old Desert Hot Springs man killed in a head-on crash has been identified.
Marlon Mack was the driver who was speeding in a 2012 Toyota Camry south on Indian Canyon Drive north of Thomas Avenue at 12:22 p.m. Th

A head-on crash killed a motorist whose car went out of control in Desert Hot Springs, say California Highway Patrol investigators.
The wreck happened at 12:22 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, along Indian Canyon Drive north of Thomas Avenue.
A 2012 Toyota Camry was speeding south when it veered onto the right shoulder where the driver ov

A brief but intense afternoon fire ripped through a duplex in Indio, say Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department officials.
The blaze was reported at 4:20 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, along the 44600 block of Palo Verde Street. Heavy smoke and flames were visible on the roof when the first firefighters arrived.
The crews of five fi

Fifteen years after appearing on “Road Rules: Maximum Velocity Tour,” Theo Von thinks he’s finally done enough to be recognized for more than his MTV accomplishments.
The comedian, who will appear at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino’s Improv Comedy Club on Friday, Feb. 20, and Saturday, Feb. 21, has made a successful

Inland residents have the opportunity to be in an upcoming book about the Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival. The book, published by Arcadia Press, will be released in February 2016. “Images of America: Indio’s Date Festival,” begins with a history of the Riverside County Fair & National Date

Three men, including one who had been allowed to adopt two boys and worked at a Coachella Valley school, have been charged with child molestation and human trafficking in a case involving what authorities described as a significant ring of child pornography.
Two of the men – William Clyde Thompson, 54, of Las Vegas; and John David

With a string of No. 1 hits and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, duo Hall & Oates have made a lasting impact in the music industry. The group, known for songs such as “Sara Smile,” “Maneater,” “Private Eyes” and “You Make My Dreams,” will be featured in movie theaters on Th